Sectional combined outboard motor and generating plant



March 31, 1959 A. CULBERTSON 7 SECTIONAL COMBINED OUTBOARD MOTOR AND GENERATING PLANT Filed April 28, 1958 INVENTOR. Zen A's A, da/e/vfso/i United States Patent SECTIONAL COMBINED OUTBOARD MOTOR AND GENERATING PLANT Lewis A. Culbertson, Tulsa, Olila. Application April 28, 1958, Serial No. 731,516 17 Claims. (Cl. 115-17) This invention relates to outboard motors for use in propelling small boats and more particularly, to a combined outboard motor and generating plant constructed of interconnected, separable units so that the utility of the assembly is greatly increased.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an outboard motor adapted to be positioned on the rear transom of a small boat in order to propel the same and which has incorporated therewith, generating mechanism constructed so that the engine of the assembly may be utilized to produce electrical energy when desired, and wherein the engine and associated generator are separable from the drive unit of the outboard motor assembly when desired so that the generating plant may be employed in various capacities independently of the lower propeller unit forming a part of the overall assembly.

A further important object of the instant invention is to provide a combined outboard motor and generating plant as described, wherein the lower drive unit which includes clamp means for securing the assembly to a a boat, as well as the power shaft and propeller operably coupled thereto, is releasably connected to the engine forming the upper unit of the assembly so that the engine and associated parts may be completely separated from the lower drive unit when desired and operated completely independent of the lower unit.

A further important object in this connection is to provide an assembly as referred to above, wherein the generator mechanism is carried by the upper engine unit in a position to be actuated by the flywheel of the engine, to the end that the engine may be used as a generating plant either when the upper unit is mounted on the drive unit and the entire assembly is attached to a boat or, in the alternative, when the upper power unit has been removed from the drive assembly and positioned upon a supporting surface.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide an assembly wherein the upper engine unit has leg com ponents thereon adapted to support the upper unit in vertically spaced relationship to a supporting surface, whereby the engine may be used in various desired places such as at camp sites, in cabins, and similar locations where electrical energy is not available and it is desired to supply power to electrically operated devices.

A further important aim of the invention is to provide a combined outboard motor and generating plant assembly wherein the generator mechanism is shiftably mounted on the upper engine unit by suitable toggle structure so that the drive wheel of the generator mechanism may be selectively moved into operable engagement with the flywheel of the engine as desired, to thereby permit optional generation of electrical energy as desired or needed.

Other important objects of this invention relate to the provision of a sectional combined outboard motor and generating plant assembly wherein the lower drive unit and the upper engine unit are provided with interengageable plate portions which assure that the engine is firmly ing slots in the other plate which serve to rigidly secure the upper engine unit to the lower drive unit, while permitting the units to be separated in a relatively short:

period of time; to the utilization of an air cooled, gasoline type engine in the power unit of the assembly so that the engine may be operated under any conditions and separate from the drive unit; to the provision of unique exhaust structure on the assembly for directing exhaust gases from the power plant, either away from the engine when the latter is removed from the lower drive unit or, in the alternative, into the water when the units are interconnected and the assembly is positioned on a boat; to simple and efficient supporting legs for maintaining the engine in vertical, spaced relationship to a supporting surface when the engine is removed from the lower drive unit and which include releasable means for maintaining the legs in their extended positions despite vibration of the engine during operation of the same; and to other important objects and salient features of the instant invention which will become obvious or be explained'more fully as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sectional combined outboard motor and generating plant assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred concepts of the instant invention, certain parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the upper engine unit of the present assembly illustrating the same removed from the lower drive unit and positioned on a suitable supporting surface;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view illustrating components in their extended, engine unit supporting positions; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Briefly, the instant invention comprises a sectional combined outboard motor and generating plant assembly including a lower drive unit having means thereon adapting the lower unit to be mounted on a small boat, as well as a propeller at the lower extremity thereof and a driven shaft operably coupled with the propeller and extending to a point adjacent the upper end of the drive unit. An upper power unitis releasably mounted on thelower drive unit and includes a prime mover in the nature of an air cooled, gasoline engine provided with a drive shaft operably engageable with the driven shaft of the lower unit only when the units are interconnected, as well as generator mechanism shiftably mounted on the upper power unit and selectively actuatable by the engine. Foldable leg components are mounted on the upper power unit for supporting the latter in vertically spaced.

3 energy during the time that the engine is utilized to propel the boat 'and,"as another option, the entire engine unit may be removed from the lower drive unit and utilized separatelytherefrom to produce electrical energy, as needed.

A' sectional combined outboard motor and generating plant assembly broadly designated by the numeral is illustrated in its preferred form in the drawing, and includes .as basic components alower drive unit 12, an upper power plant unit 14, releasably connected to unit 12, and generator mechanism 16 carried by unit 14 for production of electrical energy when. needed.

Lower drive unit 12 has a tubular, driven shaft housing18 rotatably carrying a driven shaft 20 which is operably' coupled with apropelle'n 2,72, rotatably mounted on the lower gear case 24 of housing l s through suitable reverse and forward; gears twithineasej 24.1 In, connection it isfto be pointed out ithat[, control handle .26 pivotally I mounted on housing; 18, adjacent the upper extremity'thereof controls the gears within c ase 24 and permits the operator of. assembly 10 to engage driven shaft'20 with propeller 22 'for reverse or forward operation or, in the alternative, to shift the gears into neutral so that propeller 22 is not rotated during operation of driven shaft 20. The uppermost end of driven shaft 20 is splined as at 28, and it is to he noted that end 28 of shaft 20 extends upwardly above the elliptical mounting plate 30 integral with the upper extremity of housing 18.

A clamp assembly 32 joined to and preferablyforming a part of housing 18 adaptslower unit 12 and thereby, unit 14 when the same is mounted on unit 12, to be mounted on the rear transom or the like of a small boat so that assembly 10 may propel such boat. It is to be pointed out that clamp assembly 32 is conventional in nature and extends away from housing 18 in a direction opposite to the disposition of propeller 22.

Power plant unit 14 which is removably mounted on unit 12 includes an elliptical base plate 34 identical in configuration with upper mounting plate 30 of unit 12, and plate 34 serves as a mount for an air cooled, gasoline powered engine broadly numerated 36. The vertically. disposed drive shaft (not'shown) of engine 36 has an internally splined connector secured to the lower end thereof and extends downwardly into a cup-shaped depression 40' formed in the lower face of base plate 34. Connector 38 and splined end 28 of driven shaft 20 are disposed. so that connector 38 complementally receives end 28 when unit 14 ismounted on unit 12, with plates 30 and 34 thereof in correct alignment.

Generator mechanism 16' is preferably of the rotating armature type and therefore has a drive wheel 42 connected to armature shaft44 for rotation therewith. Cylindrical housing 46 of mechanism' '16 is pivotally' mounted on crank housing 48 of engine 36 by virtue of spaced bracket ears 50 integral with housing 46, being disposed between vertically spaced brackets 52 integral with the face of crank housing 48 opposed to finned cylinders 54. A pin 56 passing through all of the bracket ears 501 and" brackets 52'permits cylindrical housing 46 of mechanism 16 to be swung in an arcabout the axis of pin 56.

The vertical disposition of cylindrical housing 46 is fixed at a predetermined point sothat drive wheel 42 of mechanism 16 frictionally. engages the outer peripheral edge of flywheel 58 connected to the upper end of the drive shaft of engine 36 above crank housing 48;

Toggle structure broadly designated '60 is provided for maintaining drive wheel42 of mechanism. 16 either in r ou o en m nt. t .i'fivwhe 58,; and. t eby:

includes": a pair of; elements 62 andji64f pivotally' inte r-.

connected at proximal, "overlapped, ends-lthereofby, pin

means 66. Opposed, outermost endsof elements 62, and

64. are pivotally', connectedtto an car. .68 on housing. 46 and.an .ear,.70. on. crank jhousingAS respectively. A coil spring 71 interconnecting opposed ends of elements 62 and 64 at the points where the same are pivotally' cou-- pled with housing 46 and crank housing 48 respectively normally biases elements 62 and 64 into a folded position. Means is provided on one of the elements 62 or 64 (not detailed) for preventing relative folding movement of elements 62 and 64 away from bracket cars 50 and brackets 52, while elements 62 and 64 are unrestricted in folding movement in the oppositedirection so that wheel'42 is automatically moved into and maintained in engagement with flywheel 58 when toggle structure 60 is collapsed;

Two pair of opposed projections 72 integrah with the outer, peripheral edge .of.mounting plate 30 of lower drive unit 12 serve as means for mounting a bolt and wing nut assembly 74, which is pivotal about a normally horizontal pin '76. Opposed slots 78 formed in the outer, peripheral margin of baseplate'34 of'unit 14 are aligned with the space between projections. 7210 thereby permit bolt and wing,,nut assembly, 74 to be moved-into the same. With the wing nuts of assemblies 74 engaging the upper surface of 'base plate 34, unit 14 is securely mounted on-unit 12 for operation of assembly 10 as a combined power plant.

In order to assure that plate 34 of unit 14 is properly aligned with plate 30 of unit. 12, a plurality of upwardly projecting dowels 80 are provided on-the upper surface of 'plate 30 and which are complementally-received within respective apertures 82 in plate 34 of unit 14.

Exhaust header 84- intercornmunicates cylinders 54 with an opening 86 in plate 34, while a finned exhaust pipe 88 intercommunicates opening 90 in plate 30 with underwater exhaust conduit. 92 forming a part of housing 18. It is to be noted that openings 86 and 90 in plates 34 and 30-respectively are inali'gnment when aper: tures 82 receive respective dowels Stl'and when end 28 of driven shaft 20 is complementally threaded into connector 38,'so that exhaust gases from engine 36 are directed out of conduit 92 into the water.

In order to permit unit 14 to be used separate from unit 12, leg components broadly designated 94 are pro vided on unit 14 for maintaining the latter in vertically spaced relationship to a supporting surface 96. Each of the leg components 94 includes a substantially trapezoidally-shaped rod 98 having a pair of parallel lengths 100 and '102, lengths 102 being substantially shorter than lengths 100. Opposed, parallel, normally horizontal'sle'eves 104 joined to] crank housing 480:: opposite sides thereof each .have a tubular lining 106 of rubber or similar material and which linings in turn rotatably receive respective lengths102of rods 98. As indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing, linings106 are provided with key portions 108' received within corresponding, opposed slots 110 in sleeves 104 to thereby prevent rotation of linings 106 relative to sleeves 104.

Means for releasably locking rods 98 in their extended positions as illustrated in Fig. 3 preferably comprises a collar111'2' slidably mounted, on each of the lengths 102 of rods 98' and having inwardly extending keys 114 slidably disposed in elongated slots 116 extending longitudinally of lengths 102. Lugs 118integral with'collars 112 and extending toward respective sleeves 104 .are adapted to be complementally received within corresponding slots 120 within linings 106 and sleeves 104.

Perforated ears 122 welded to lengths 100 of rods 98 are disposed at angles so as to lie flat on supporting surface 96 when legs 94 are in their extendedpositions, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In describing the operation and utility of comhinedlbut i board motor andgenerating plant assembly 10, it will initially be assumed that it is desired to use assemblylltl inpropellinga small boat bypositioning thesame onthe rear..transom .of such boat. Unit 14 is securely-mounted on unit.;12 .as illustrated in ,Fig l, and leg components 94 are folded to their normally inoperative positions against or adjacent to crank housing 48 of engine 36, with collars 112 shifted into a position with the lugs 118 thereof received within corresponding slots 120 in linings 106 and sleeves 104 to thereby maintain rods 98 in out-of-theway positions. Clamp assembly 32 is secured to the transom of the boat and engine 36 may be started by pulling on the recoil starter handle 124 connected to starter 126, in turn mounted on hood 128. Control handle 124 is moved to the desired location with the gears within casing 24 being shifted to forward, reverse or neutral, as desired. Thus, if the gears are in forward position, propeller 22 is rotated as driven shaft 20 is operated by the drive shaft of engine 36.

Assuming that it is desired to generate electricity during operation of engine 36 and consequent rotation of propeller 22, the pivotally interconnected ends of elements 62 and 64 are shifted toward bracket cars 50 and brackets 52 to thereby cause toggle structure 60 to collapse and move drive wheel 42 of the armature of generator mechanism 16 into operable engagement with the outer, peripheral edge of flywheel 58. In this manner, as flywheel 58 rotates during operation of engine 36, generator mechanism 16 supplies electrical energy to a desired point of use. It can now be perceived that power unit 14 may be utilized to simultaneously propel the boat and also generate electrical energy or, in the alternative, the boat may be propelled by assembly without mechanism 16 being driven by flywheel 58 or, as a third alternative, control handle 26 of unit 12 may be shifted to a neutral position so that engine 36 continues to operate while propeller 22 remains stationary and drive wheel 42 is shifted into engagement with flywheel 58 to cause mechanism 16 to generate electricity while movement of the boat is discontinued.

If it is desired to use power plant or unit 14 at another location such as a camp site, in a cabin or other place where electric current is needed, unit 14 may be readily removed from unit 12 by merely unscrewing the nuts of bolt and wing nut assemblies 74, whereupon the latter may be swung downwardly out of slots 78 to thereby permit plate 34 of unit 14 to be moved upwardly until connector 38 clears the upper end 28 of driven shaft20. Unit 14 may be easily carried to a desired point through the handle provided by starter 126 and then leg components 94 may be swung downwardly to their extended positions in Fig. 3 to support engine 36 in vertically spaced relationship to surface 96. In order that rods 98 may be swung downwardly about the axes of lengths 102, collars 112 are shifted away from sleeves 104 to move lugs 118 out of slots 120, whereupon when rods 98 have been moved to their extended positions, collars 112 are reshifted toward sleeves 104 to cause lugs 118 to again reengage linings 106 and sleeves 104 within corresponding slots 120. If desired, stakes or other securing means may be driven through perforated ears 122 to secure unit 14 to surface 96 and prevent movement of the same caused by vibration of engine 36 as the latter operates. In this connection, it is to be noted that spring means may be provided in collars 112 to assure that the same remain in firm engagement with linings 106 and sleeves 104.

It is particularly contemplated that assembly 10 utilize a relatively lightweight engine 36 which is normally termed a trolling type of power plant so that the overall weight of the assembly is kept to a minimum. Thus, the fisherman or sportsman may easily transport assembly 10 to a desired location and one person may remove unit 14 from unit 12 for subsequent use at another site. Another important feature is the utilization of an air cooled type of power plant so that it in not necessary to provide means for cooling engine 36 and the same may be used at any location, even remote from the water.

Although a governor has not been illustrated in the assembly described, it is to be pointed out that in certain Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller and a driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper power unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected, the upper unit being completely separable from the lower unit; and generator mechanism carried by the upper unit and actuatable by the drive shaft of the prime mover whereby the mechanism produces electrical energy during operation of the prime mover irrespective of the relative relationship of the units.

2. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller and a driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper power unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected, the upper unit being completely separable from the lower unit; and generator mechanism carried by the upper unit and selectively actuatable by the drive shaft of the prime mover whereby the mech anism may optionally be used to produce electrical energy during operation of the prime mover irrespective of the relative relationship of the units.

3. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller and a driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper power unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected, the upper unit being completely separable from the lower unit; and generator mechanism shiftably carried by the upper unit and movable to and from a position where the same is actuated during rotation of the drive shaft whereby the mechanism may optionally be used to produce electrical ene y during operation of the prime mover irrespective ofthe relative relationship of the units.

4. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller and a driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper power unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft and a flywheel thereon, said drive shaft being operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected and the upper unit being completely separable from the lower unit; and generator mechanism shiftably carried by the upper unit and having a drive wheel, said mechanism being movable to and from a position with said drive wheel thereof operably engaging the flywheel whereby the mechanism may optionally be used to produce electrical energy during operation of the prime mover irrespective of the relative relationship of the units.

5. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller and a driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft and a flywheel thereon, said drive shaft being operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected and the upper unit being completely separable from the lower garages unit;generatormechanism having-a drive wheel; and'toggl'e structure shiftably mounting-the mechanism onv the upper unitin'a position to maintain the drive wheel in spaced relationship to theflywheel when the structure is in its extended position and-to: automatically shift the drive wheel into operable engagement with the flywheel when the'structure is in its collapsed position whereby the mechanism may optionally be used to produce electrical energy during operation of the prime mover irrespective of the relative relationship of the units.

6. A combined outboard motor and generating plant asset forth in claim wherein said structure includes a pair'of pivotally interconnected elements, one of the eleinents being pivotally connected to the mechanism and the other element being pivotally coupled with the ipper unit, and spring means interconnecting opposed ends of the elements adjacent said mechanism and'the upper unit respectively;

7. A -combined outboard motor and generating plant asset forth in claim 6 wherein said elements have means thereon limiting relative folding of the same in one direction to thereby maintain the drive wheel out of engagement with said flywheel.

8. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided with a propeller anda driven shaft operably connected thereto; an upper power unit releasably connected to the lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft operably coupled with said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected, the upper unit being completely separable from the lower unit; generator mechanism carried by the upper unit and actuatable by the drive shaft of the prime mover whereby the mechanism produces electrical energy during operation of the prime mover irrespective ofthe relative relationship of the units; and foldable leg components carried by the upper unit for maintaining the latter in spaced relationship above a supporting surface-when the upper unit is separated from the lower unit.

9. A combined outboard motor and generating plant as set forth in claim 8 wherein said components include a pair of' substantially trapezoidally-shaped rods pivotally mounted on opposed sides of the upper unit.

10. A- combined outboard motor and generating plant as set forth in claim 9 wherein is provided parallel sleeves on opposed sides-of the upper unit rotatably receiving corresponding, identical lengths of respective rods, there being releasable means on said rods engageable with respectivesleeves for maintaining the rods in extended positions supporting the upper unit above said surface.

11. A combined outboard motor and generating plant asset forth incl'aim 10 wherein said releasable means includes-slots in said sleeves and a collar slidably mounted on respective lengths of the rods, secured against rotation thereon and provided with laterally extending lugs movable into corresponding slots in the sleeves.

12.. A combined outboard motor-.andigeneratingplant comprising a. lower drive. unit: having an upper, flat mounting plate, a propeller atathe lower endthereof, a driven shaft operablyucoupled: with the propeller,. extending upwardly in;the;;lower;unit to a point adjacent the upper plate and externally splined at the upper end thereof; an upper power unit removably mounted onthe lower unit and having a base plate releasably connected to said upper plate of the lower unit and a prime mover provided with a drive-shaft having an internally splined connector at the lower end thereof complementally receiving the splined upper end of said driven shaft only when the units are interconnected; and generator. mechanism carried by the upper unit. andactuatable by the drive shaft of the prime mover whereby the mechanism producesv electrical energy during operationof .the prime' mover irrespective of the. relative. relationship .of the units.

13. A combined outboard motor. andgenerating plant as set-forth in claim 12 whereinsaid primemover isan air cooled, hydrocarbon powered engine.

14. A combined outboard motor and generating plant as set forth in claim 13 wherein said plates are provided with aligned openings, said upper nnitbeingprovided with an exhaust header extending from the engine. to the opening in the base plate and said lower unit having an exhaust pipe extending from the opening. insaid upper plate to a point adjacent the. lower extremity .of'the. drive unit.

15. A combined outboard motor and generating plant as set forth in claim 12 wherein'oneof' the plates is provided with laterally extending dowelsand the other plate has an aperture receiving a respectivedowel to maintain. the units in proper alignment. when the same are interconnected.

16. A combined outboard motor and generating plant as set forth in claim 12 wherein one of the plates is .provided with a pair of opposed slots in the outer peripheral edge thereof and the other plate has a bolt. and nut assembly for each of said slots and disposed to be received in a respective slot for releasably interconnecting the units.

17. A combined outboard motor and generating plant comprising a lower drive unit provided witha propeller; an upper power unit mounted on said lower unit and having a prime mover provided with a drive shaft operably coupled with said propeller, there being gear means connected with said drive shaft. for disengaging. the latter from the propeller and permitting the primemover and thereby the drive shaft to be operated completely independently of the propeller; and generator mechanism carried by the power unit and selectively actuatable by said drive shaft of the prime mover .duringoperation .of the latter irrespective of interconnectionof the drive shaft and the propeller.

No references cited. 

